Production of a continuous molded plastic strip

ABSTRACT

A continuous molded plastic strip is produced using mold plates which have cavities therein for molding upstanding members or pile-like formations when moldable plastic material is applied under suitable pressure. Thereafter, plastic material is applied to the exposed ends of the pile-like formations while still in the cavities and a strip constituting a base member is formed having the pile-like protuberances integrally attached. In addition to the apparatus a special method is proposed for producing the upstanding formations or members integrally attached to the base member. Certain related products are also proposed including a special form of hook member.

United States Patent 91 Menzin etal.

1 PRODUCTION OF A CONTINUOUS MOLDED PLASTIC STRIP [75] Inventors: Marvin Menzin, Waltham; John II.

Blanz, Concord; Andrew C. Harvey, Boston; Sang Soon Rhee, Burlington,

all of Mass.

[73] Assignee: American Velcro, Inc., New York,

[22] Filed: Dec. 1, 1971 211 App]. No.: 203,878

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 824,597, May 14, 1969,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 264/166, 264/167, 264/251, 264/328, 264/334 [51] Int. Cl B29d 5/00 [58] Field of Search 264/328, 166, 167, 264/171, 172, 174, 243, 251, 252, 254, 255,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,507,010 4/1970 Doleman 264/328 X 51 Sept. 11, 1973 2,282,308 5/1942 I Dahlin 264/328 X Primary ExaminerRobert F. White Assistant Examiner-Richard R. Kucia Attorney- Dean S. Edmonds, David .I. Toomey et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A continuous molded plastic strip is produced using in addition to the apparatus a special method is proposed for producing the upstanding formations or members integrally attached to the base member.

Certain related products are also proposed including a special form of hook member.

4 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures United States Patent [1 1 vm1 3,758,657v

Menzin et a1. I 1 Sept. 11, 1973 Patented Sept. 11, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 K mm bv Patented Sept. 11, 1973 3,758,651

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 'FIG. 3

Patented Sept. 11, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 4

I Patented Sept. 11, 1973 6 Sheets- Sheet 6 FIG. 1O

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to the manufacture'of a molded product which may for example, be in the form of a continuous molded ribbon or other base member having thereon closely spaced upstanding pile-like menibers or projections in the form of hooks, loops or knobended formations and which may be used in making separable fastening devices of the general type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,717,437 to De Mestral.

2. Description of the Prior Art US. Pat. No. 3,196,490 to Erb discloses an apparatus for making a somewhat similar molded product although in that patent the base member is a reinforcing strip of woven fabric and the moldable plastic material is forced through the fabric from one side to the other in forming the pile-like formations or protuberances. Also the apparatus of that patent-employsmold-plates which are moved'in a direction transversely of their widths, whereas in the present apparatusthe plates are moved in a lengthwise direction rather than transversely. Furthermore in the patented apparatus the mold plates are separated from one another during a considerable extent of the circular path in which they travel, and are brought together in tightly squeezed face-to-face relation during the remainder of such circular path and during the molding operation.

SUMMARY or. THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention and a particular embodiment thereof, mold plateshaving' similar edges are placed side by side ingroups and are held in position to form a continuous surface. Mold cavities for molding upstanding projections which may be inthe form of hooks, loops, knob-like or other forms, are providedin the faces of the mold plates at their peripheries, these cavities beingeach closed on one side by the continuous flat surfaces of the adjacent plates. Provision is made for shifting the plates which close the mold cavities radially inward at the proper time so as to open the mold cavities and release the molded upstanding members. Means is provided for deliveringmoldable plastic material under suitable pressure to "the mold cavities and thereby mold the projections, and also such material is delivered to said continuous surface to form thereon a base m'emberstrip to which these upstanding members are integrally attached.

Advantageously spacer plates are arranged alternately with the mold plates, the' spacer plate's'serving to close the mold cavities, and the invention will be described with the groups of mold plates arranged in this manner, the groups of plates being held in position sidewise by the walls of a peripheral groove in a disc member which supports the mold plates so that they form a continuous, cylindrical surface. The head of an extruder for plastic material cooperates with the cylindrical surface of the mold wheel thus formed. A molten plastic material from the extruder is forced intothe mold cavities under pressure and forms the protuberances, and such material also forms a base member or ribbon onthe surface of the mold wheelto which the molded protuberances cast in the mold cavities are ineasily.

2 tegrally connected. An appropriate molten material is Nylon or-a material'known and sold under the registered tradename "-Zytel."

The mold plates containing the mold cavities and the spacer plates are arranged in groups or sets in substantially end-to-end relation extending circumferentially around the peripheral groove in the supporting disc. This disc is arranged in integral relation to a heavy rotatable shaft suitably supported in the frame of the machine and rotated at a comparatively slow speed of from about 6 to 16 revolutionsper minute.

ment with the similar edges of the mold plates. In their withdrawn position the edges of the spacer plates are radially inward from the mold cavities so that the pilelike protuberances can be readily freed from these cavities. Mechanism isprovided for shifting each set or group of spacer plates radially inward for the purpose just referred to.

To accomplish such shifting hydraulic means is provided to continuously urge each group of spacer plates radially outward and cams cooperate with rollers mounted on spacer plate shifter elements on the opposite sides of the mold wheel to-move the spacer plates inwardly against the hydraulic pressure. By the cooperation of the hydraulic pressure means and the earns the spacer plates are placed and maintained in the outward position during the molding operation, that is, aseach set of mold and spacer plates passes the die of theexunder. The spacer plates are in the same way maintained in their outward position for a sufficient length of time after passing the die to allow the moldable material to set. The molded strip with the pile-like protuberances projecting therefrom is led away from the mold wheel approximately on the opposite side thereof from the extruder die.

The continuous molded plastic product may be produced by injection molding a'multiplicity of individual upstanding members or form'ationswhich may be pilecording tothe method above described, together witha special form of hook member which canbe molded BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus with parts broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse section'of the mold ing wheel taken along irregular line 2-2 of FIG. 3 with parts broken away to show the different positions of the spacer plate shifters;

FIG. 3 isalongitudinal section of the molding wheel taken along irregular line 3-3 of. FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged section of a portion of the molding wheel and of the head of the extruder;

FIG..5 is a section taken along line .55 of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a modified form of extruder nozzle;

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 2 with the spacer plates in their outward position;

FIG. 8 is a still further enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8 showing portions of several spacer and mold plates;

FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 2 prior to the separation of the hooks from the mold plates and with the spacer plates retracted;

FIG. 11 is a section taken on line 11-1l of FIG. 2 showing the hooks partially disengaged from the mold plate cavities;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the product;

FIG. 13 shows in perspective a modified form of hook element and the adjacent portion of the base on which it is mounted; and

FIGS. 14 and 15 are two elevational views of the modified hook element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 12 reference numeral designates a short section of a base member in the form of a continuous strip of molded plastic material which is produced by the apparatus of the invention, and projecting from one surface of this strip there are numerous pile-like projections or protuberances in the form of books 21. These hooks are integral with and project approximately 1/16 inch from the surface of strip 20.

The machine for producing this molded plastic product is illustrated in the remaining figures of the drawings. The machine is built around a main shaft 22 (FIG. 3) which projects to the right from a supporting roller bearing 23 the outer race of which is mounted in a part 24 which projects from the main frame 25. Shaft 22 further supported by a bearing not shown within frame 25. A suitable driving mechanism for rotating shaft 22 at the desired speed is associated with this same housmg.

A mold wheel indicated generally by numeral 26 is arranged on the overhanging portion of shaft 22 projecting to the right of bearing 23. The supporting member of the various components of mold wheel 26 is a thick circular disc 27 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which is made an integral part of shaft 22 as by welding. Disc 27 has at the center of its periphery a continuous groove 28 to receive the several (in this case eight) groups of assembled mold and spacer plates. A group of the mold plates 29 with spacer plates 30 arranged alternately between them is shown at the top of FIG. 3 and another similar group at the bottom. There are eight of these groups of associated'mold and spacer plates designated by the letters A through H in FIG. 2 and arranged around the periphery of mold wheel 26 and disc 27. The group of plates are approximately in end to end relationship in groove 28 with the arcuate surfaces of the mold and spacer plates forming a cylindrical surface which is continuous with the cylindrical surfaces 39 of disc 27 on each side of the groove.

The side walls of groove 28 perform a sidewise positioning function with respect to groups A-H of the mold and spacer plates. The depth of groove 28 is arranged to allow the spacer plates of each group to be shifted radially with respect to their companion mold plates and will be more fully described later on. The

in a circumferential direction by means of a pin 31 which closely fits the respective apertures 32 inthe mold plates (FIGS. 2 and 3). As shown in FIG.'2 the bottom surface of groove 28 is octagonal in shape and the groups A-H of mold plates 29 are positioned in the radial direction by the respective bottom surfaces 32 of this octagonal bottom.

The mold plates 29 of eachof groups A-H of the mold and spacer plates have mold cavities on their opposite sides (FIG. 7) and these cavities as shown in FIG. 8 are in the form of hooks so as'to mold the hooklike protuberances or projections 21 shown in FIG. 12.

Group A of the mold and spacer plates (FIG. 2) is moving slowly in the counter-clockwise direction and in operative relation to the die 35 of an extruder 36 for a suitable moldable plastic material. This material moves under pressure through die 35 in two feed passages 37 and 38 (FIG. 4). Spacer plates 30 (FIG. 7) are in their outward position so that their arcuate surfaces are continuous with one another from group to group around the mold wheel and also are continuous with the arcuate surfaces of mold plates 29 and with the marginal cylindrical portions 39 of disc 27 on the opposite sides of groove 28 (FIG. 3).

In order to prevent flashing that is, thin pieces of plastic projecting from the surfaces of the molded protuberances 21 the mold and spacer plates are prevented in any convenient manner from moving apart. One way of preventing these plates from moving apart is to provide a gap or chamber 40 at the right of group B shown in FIG. 7.to extend in a circumferential direction and somwhat below the bottoms of mold cavities 33 and 34. As each group-of mold and spacer plates moves opposite the opening of passages 37 the plastic material enters the peripheral chamber 40 and exerts a sidewise pressure to prevent the plates of that group from moving apart. Such pressure will dissipate upon setting of the plastic material. In the modified form of extruder die 41 (FIG. 6) an additional passage 42 for plastic material is provided in advance of passage 37 and in line with peripheral chamber 40 (FIG. 7).

Considerable flexibility is provided by having the two extruder passages; passage 37 will inject plastic mate rial under high pressure from pump 37awhile the'spacing of passage 38 from the mold to form portion 43 and the extrusion therefrom at lower pressure permits the drawing of ribbon 44.

It-is possible for a single extruder passage'to be used for supplying a moldable substance to the. mold cavities and for forming the strip. j

Returing to the apparatus and to FIG. 1 it is important that the extruder die head 35 be maintained in the correct radial position with respect to mold wheel 26,

that is, the cylindrical marginal surfaces 39 of the disc Near each end of crossbar 45 there is a roller 49 I mounted for rotation in a bracket 50 projecting from the left-hand face to bar 45. Rollers 49 rest on the peripheral cylindrical surfaces 39 of disc 27 of mold wheel 21. In order to urge the extruder head 35 in a direction towards the mold wheel 26 two rods 51 and 514 (FIG. 3), one at each side of the mold wheel, are arranged parallel to the axis of the extruder barrel 46. At

its left end rod 51 is in threaded engagement with an aperture in part 24 of the main frame 25 of the apparatus. Rod 51a similarly engages a heavy circular member 24a, which is supported by a roller bearing 24b on a reduced end portion of main shaft 22. Member 24a is held stationary by a suitable base connection (not shown). Rods 51 and 51a pass freely through apertures provided in crossbar 45 on each side of the extruder and on the right-hand end portion of each rod there is a compression coil spring 52 and a pair of adjusting nuts 53. These springs serve to maintain rollers 49 in constant engagement with the cylindrical surfaces 39 of disc 27 during the rotation of mold wheel 26. When the rollpermit their sliding movement on the side surfaces of disc 27. I

At their outer ends the follower plates 60 and 61 are interconnected by two shafts 69 (FIG. 2) which are spaced apart conformably to the arcuate length of the mold and spacer members 29 and 30 of each groups A-H. Shafts 69 closely engage the opposite edges of rectangular apertures 70 in each spacer plate 30. Thus,

' spacer plates 30 are held in fixed position with respect ers are in such engagement, the extruder head 35 will be spaced properly with respect to the mold wheel.

Under certain circumstances it is desirable to shift the extruder die head 35 away from its operative position with respect to mold wheel 26. This is accomplished by means of a slide 54 which moves on a rail 55 and is connected by bracket 56 to crossbar 45. Slide 54 is engaged by an elongated motor driven screw 57 rotated by a motor 58.

With this arrangement the extruder die head 35 can be quickly shifted away from the mold wheel 26 and just as quickly shifted back into position, and the rollers 50 will cause the surface of the extruder head to be correctly positioned with respect to the surface of the mold wheel. 5

Referring now to the radial movement of spacer plates 30 and the maintenance of these plates and mold plates 29 in the eight groups A through It inclusive, although pins 31 fit the apertures in the mold plates 29, the spacer plates 30 have apertures 59 surrounding pins 31 which are larger in diameter than the pins so as to permit the desired radial movement of the spacer plates. Mold plates 29 of each group A-H are mounted, as previously explained, in immovable position with their arcuate edges conforming to the cylindrical marginal surfaces 39 of disc 27 of mold wheel 26.

The several spacer plates .30 for each of the groups A-H are moved radially outwardly and inwardly by means of a pair of follower plates 60 and 61 (FIGS: 2 and 3). These are similar insliding elements triangular in shape with rounded corners as viewed in FIGS. land 2. Plates 60 and 61 are insliding engagement with the opposite surfaces of disc 27.

Fixed at the'inner andnarrow ends of each pair'o plates 60 and 61 there is a shaft 62 on the outer ends of which are rollers 63 and 64 which engage the sur faces of internal cam surfaces 65 and 66 respectively (FIG. 3). Cam surface 65 is an internal cam formed on the stationary heavy circular member 24a, whereas cam surface 66 is an internal cam provided on part 24 which projects from main frame 25. Shaft 62 extends through an opening 67 in thick supporting disc 27, such opening being sufficiently large to permit the necessary radial movement of shaft 62 to effect the shifting of the spacer plates 30. On shaft 62 there is a sleeve 68 the ends of which maintain the inner portions of .follower plates 60 and 61 in spaced relationto each other and to the follower plates 60 and 61, and, when these are in their outward position, to be described, the arcuate surfaces of the spacer plates are precisely aligned with the arcuate surfaces of the mold plates 29.

Each of the follower plates 60 and 61 of each pair has a hydraulic cylinder 71 arranged in a rectangular opening 72 therein. The inner end of each cylinder 71 is open toreceive the hydraulic fluid and is held in fluidtight engagement with a supply duct 73 (FIG. 3) for this fluid by means of a screw 74 at the outer end of the cylinder which is in threaded engagement with an opening in the outer portion of the shifter element.

The eight pairs of spacer plate shifter elements 60 and 61 may be held in their outward radial position by any convenient means. As shown, hydraulic pressure is applied to cylinders 71- for this purpose. This hydraulic pressure is provided by means of hydraulic fluid in an accumulator or reservoir 75. This accumulator is mounted on a circularplate 76 (FIG. 1) which is supported in any convenient manner (not shown) at the right of heavy circular disc 244 (FIG. 3). The hydraulic fluid from accumulator 75 is connected with the duct system 73 which includes all of the pressure cylinders 71 of the eight groups A-H by means of tubing 77 and 78 shown in FIG. 1'. Also connected to this tubing system is a pressure gauge 79 and a filling connection 80.

The shape or outline of the two internal cams 65 and 66 are identical and one of them is shown in FIG. 2. The purpose of the hydraulic cylinders 71 is to move the pair of follower plates 60 and 61 for each group outwardly prior to and during the time that the groups of molding and spacer plates are passing the die 35 of the extruder. The spacer plates are maintained in their outward position by the hydraulic pressure acting in cylinders 71 for a sutficient time after the extruding and molding'operation has been completed to allow the plastic material of the base member or strip 20 and the protuberant elements'or'hooks 21 to set. Accordingly, the internal surfaces of cams 65 and 66 have two semicircular sections 7 9.and 8 0 interconnected by two shifting surfaces 81 disposed diametrically opposite one an- I other and in the approximate angular positions shown in FIG. 2.

The spacer plate shifting elements60 and 61 are guided by "the ends of the spacer plates mounted thereon duringthe inward and outward radial shifting movement. This may be seen by referring to FIG. 2, Group B where the opposite end edges of spacer plates 30 are indicated by numerals 82. These edges are parallel with each other and with the radius passing through pin 31. The edges 82 lie in contact with similar edges 83,(FIG. 9) of the neighboring mold plates 29. Toallow v theradial movement of the shafts 69 for the spacer plates 30 of each group, large circular Openings 84 are provided in the mold plates 29.

The continuous strip 44 with the molded protuberances 21 thereon are directed outwardly around a takeoff rod or roller 85 (FIGS. I and 2) and taken up in a coil (not shown) or otherwise stored.

During the entire operation the various parts of the apparatus are to be maintained at the proper temperature, and for this purpose a hood 86 of sheet metal is arranged to enclose the apparatus. A swinging door 87 may be provided adjacent the take-off roller 85 as an outlet for the plastic product. The temperature within hood 86 is maintained by a flow of temperature controlled air through four inlet ducts 88 (FIG. 2). The air flows out through an annular opening 89 (FIG. 3) around the periphery of member 24.

Mold cavities 33 and 34 produce hook elements 21 which have rounded surfaces, whereas FIGS. l3, l4 and illustrate a modified form or forms in which the hook eye has a sloping surface 94 and its end which functions as a cam surface during the extracting of the hooks from the mold cavities. When the hook is pulled radially outward by the connecting web 44 (FIG. 2) (which is drawn off the molding wheel surface) this cam surface causes the hook to be expelled from its molding cavity into the clearance provided by the shifting of the adjacent spacer plate, thus freeing the eye of the hook from the cavity.

In FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 the shank portion 90 has two equally dimensioned flat sides 91 and a somewhat larger third side 92. Shank portion 90 is larger in cross section near the web than at the tip of the hook so as to facilitate filling the mold cavity. The three flat side portions facilitate the release of the molded hook from the cavity. The three flat side portions of the shank are continued in smooth curves into and throughout the hook portion 93. The shank portion of the third side 92 lies in the same continuous plane as the corresponding face of hook portion 93 as may be seen in FIG. 15. In addition the hook portions 93 are disposed at a smaller angle to the axis of the shank portion 90 than in the case with the hook members formed in mold cavities 33 and 34 as is indicated in FIG. 8.

It will be understood that objects having various forms other than the hook members particularly illustrated in FIGS. 13-15 may be produced according to the method and apparatus of the invention. For example the continuous production of a plurality of objects is possible each object being attached to a common strip which serves as a carrier and common connection of the objects. Furthermore, it is obvious that the invention lends itself to producing different shapes of molded protuberances formed as a pile and integrally attached to a backing strip. Such protuberances may, for example, comprise a multiplicity of loops to form one part of a hook and loop type fastener; or may comprise differently shaped hooking elements than are specifically illustrated herein.

Accordingly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing has described a particular embodiment or embodiments of the invention and is merely representative. Therefore, in order to appreciate more fully the spirit and scope of the invention, reference should be made to the appended claims.

We claim: 1

l. A method for continuously molding a plastic ribbonhaving a backing strip and a multiplicity of upstanding members formed integrally therewith comprising the steps of:

a. forming a series of mold cavities capable of producing said upstanding members between at least one pair of relatively shiftable contacting mold plates along the interfacial plane of contact therebetween;

b. injecting a plastic material into the mold cavities while moving the mold plates along an endless closed path past an orifice through which the plastic material is delivered to thereby form said upstanding members;

. before the plastic material in the cavities has set and as said mold plates are moved past said orifice, applying a plastic material onto a molding surface defined by said mold plates with which surface each mold cavity communicates to thereby form a backing strip integrally formed with the upstanding members;

d. setting the plastic material in said mold cavities and on said molding surface to formsaid ribbon;

e. opening the mold cavities to permit release of the ribbon by sliding the mold plates along the interfacial plane of contact therebetween in a direction intersecting the molding surface; and

f. removing the ribbon from the mold plates during movement of the mold plates as aforesaid.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein each mold cavity has a structure capable of producing an upstanding member in the form of a hooking element suitable for use in a separable fastening device one component of which is defined by said molded plastic ribbon.

3. A method for continuously molding a plastic ribbon having a backing strip and a multiplicity of upstanding members formed integrally therewith com-- prising the steps of:

a. forming a series of mold cavities capable of producing said upstanding members between at least one pair of relatively shiftable contacting mold plates along the interfacial plane of contact therebetween;

b. injecting a plastic material into the mold cavities while moving the mold plates along an endless closed path past an orifice through which the plastic material is delivered to thereby form said up standing members;

c. before the plastic material in the cavities has set and as the mold plates are moved past said orifice, applying a plastic material onto a molding surface defined by said mold plates .with which surface each mold cavity communicates to thereby form a backing strip integrally formed with the upstanding members;

d. setting the plastic material in saidmold cavities and on said molding during movement of the mold 7 plates as aforesaid to form said ribbon;

e. opening the mold cavities during movement of said mold cavities as aforesaid to permit release of the ribbon by sliding the mold plates along the interfacialplane of contact therebetween in adirection intersecting the molding surface; and

f. removing the ribbon from the mold plates during movement of the mold plates as aforesaid by simultaneously stripping the backing strip off the molding surface and moving the upstanding members in a direction generally transverse to the interfacial plane of contact between the mold plates.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein each mold cavity has astructure capable of producing an upstanding member in the form of a hooking element suit.- able for use in a separable fastening device one component of which is defined by said molded plastic ribbon.

" UN TED s'u'crns 1 -i 1.-1;\"1-"omen CERTIFICA'JTE OF CORRECTION ws msv' g p September 11,1 73

Patent No.

Invcnto r(s) Menzin et- .al

lt is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and than said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 48, after "character" insert the following .1 sentence Y These formations are maintained inia 'pre-W determined arrangement until after the material'- has set and then an extrudate of moldable plastic material a is applied to the bottom of. these, members to form the'base support for them and to .which they are integrally attached.

Column 4, line 51, after "strip" insert the vfollowing sentence 1 h however, the use of two extruder passages and of separate pumps for each passage has the attend-ant advantagesmentioned". I Column 4, line 52, change "Returing'fto Returning a 4 Column 5, line 50, delete the. words "in sliding" and replace them with plate-like Column 5, line 52, change "insliding {oiin sliding Signed and sealed-"this 21st day 036 May 197m,

(SEAL) p V Attest: a T p 4 EDWARD ILFLETGIEJR TR. v L I-LAPLSI-J ALL DAMN I ttesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A method for continuously molding a plastic ribbon having a backing strip and a multiplicity of upstanding members formed integrally therewith comprising the steps of: a. forming a series of mold cavities capable of producing said upstanding members between at least one pair of relatively shiftable contacting mold plates along the interfacial plane of contact therebetween; b. injecting a plastic material into the mold cavities while moving the mold plates along an endless closed path past an orifice through which the plastic material is delivered to thereby form said upstanding members; c. before the plastic material in the cavities has set and as said mold plates are moved past said orifice, applying a plastic material onto a molding surface defined by said mold plates with which surface each mold cavity communicates to thereby form a backing strip integrally formed with the upstanding members; d. setting the plastic material in said mold cavities and on said molding surface to form said ribbon; e. opening the mold cavities to permit release of the ribbon by sliding the mold plates along the interfacial plane of contact therebetween in a direction intersecting the molding surface; and f. removing the ribbon from the mold plates during movement of the mold plates as aforesaid.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein each mold cavity has a structure capable of producing an upstanding member in the form of a hooking element suitable for use in a separable fastening device one component of which is defined by said molded plastic ribbon.
 3. A method for continuously molding a plastic ribbon having a backing strip and a multiplicity of upstanding members formed integrally therewith comprising the steps of: a. forming a series of mold cavities capable of producing said upstanding members between at least one pair of relatively shiftable contacting mold plates along the interfacial plane of contact therebetween; b. injecting a plastic material into the mold cavities while moving the mold plates along an endless closed path past an orifice through which the plastic material is delivered to thereby form said upstanding members; c. before the plastic material in the cavities has set and as the mold plates are moved past said orifice, applying a plastic material onto a molding surface defined by said mold plates with which surface each mold cavity communicates to thereby form a backing strip integrally formed with the upstanding members; d. setting the plastic material in said mold cavities and on said molding during movement of the mold plates as aforesaid to form said ribbon; e. opening the mold cavities during movement of said mold cavities as aforesaid to permit release of the ribbon by sliding the mold plates along the interfacial plane of contact therebetween in a direction intersecting the molding surface; and f. removing the ribbon from the mold plates during movement of the mold plates as aforesaid by simultaneously stripping the backing strip off the molding surface and moving the upstanding members in a direction generally transverse to the interfacial plane of contact between the mold plates.
 4. The method according to claim 3 wherein each mold cavity has a structure capable of producing an upstanding member in the form of a hooking element suitable for use in a separable fastening device one component of which is defined by said molded plastic ribbon. 